....................another year began. It was cold and windy. A slice of bright, waxing crescent moon, rocked toward Venus, lighting the black sky. From old stone churches bells rang, stained glass windows glowed.
Downtown..........a vibrant place to join in the merriment and say goodbye to 2008
Kilted fife and drum band and brilliant fireworks at First Night in Raleigh, North Carolina.
We go to the early celebration. Step briskly in the Peoples' Procession, enjoy the early fireworks display for the children...............and older people like us who don't relish being out in the crackly cold at midnight!
Returning home, the front porch welcomed. A fire soon burned in the hearth. Friends stopped by to raise a glass. And at midnight? Of course dh and I finished the champagne, sang Auld Lang Syne, hopped into bed, and hoped for that great 2009 that we wish for all of you!
~~~~~ HAPPY NEW YEAR ~~~~~
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Such beautiful pictures!! Thank you for sharing and we wish you a Happy New Year too!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a very nice evening. We were in bed before midnight. LOL.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Mary and to your husband.
Nancy
Sounds like a fun New Year celebration. Happy New Year Mary!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful pictures to start the New year with and lovely words accompanying them.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family the best New year ever.
Warm wishes, Angela
Happy New Year to both you and Bob. Here's hoping 2009 is a wonderful year full of blessings. Thanks for your beautiful and inspirational blog!
ReplyDeleteDorothy-
Happy New Year Mary!
ReplyDeleteYou always have such a great way of setting a mood! Happy New Year to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteLori
Happy New Year Mary!! I hope we can hook up this year at Suzanna's sometime for some shopping fun! xo, suzy
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Mary! Thanks for sharing your wonderful blog and your beautiful pictures in 2008. I can hardly wait to see what 2009 has in store!
ReplyDeleteMany blessings... Dixie
You were brave going to First Night in that cold wind. We stayed home and happily enjoyed the company of each other.
ReplyDeleteThis man has made each of our New Year days together special and every other day, too.
A happy, healthy new year to you and your family.
Hello Mary, My company is gone, my PJ's are on and I'm sipping a bit of Baileys. Mmmmmm life is good in 2009. I had New Years dinner here for 17 loved ones today. I'm tired! but happy. For good luck we had most of the suggested good luck food. Life is good. Like you, my tall dark man lives here. (graying)
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you an Bob had some excitement last night. Your photos are looking like a good time. Then home, where the heart is. Sounds like a fine New years to me.
Mary, I too am so glad we met and am very glad you consider me your friend. I feel the same about you.
I call it a special blogging bonus.
Blessings and love...Jeanne
Mary, I forgot to say congrats on your new car, Yea!! Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteJeanne
I love stumbling onto blogs I haven't read before .... yours is wonderful! I follow "This Abingdon" and so enjoy the photos and interesting info about the city(I have visited twice years ago.) I have also traveled through your part of the UK too. What an enchanting place! Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog and love it. And, I'm a fellow Triangle resident!
ReplyDeleteMary, so beautifully said! The pictures are lovely. I can feel the cold!
ReplyDeleteI wish you and your family a Happy 2009.
Lynn
Thank you for all my "arm-chair" travels, all the great pieces of history and information about those far away places - have a wonderful New Year - each and every day of it!
ReplyDeleteLove the image of that church and your front porch as well.
ReplyDeleteI wrote you in my comment section but doubt you will go back and read that so amy going to leave it here:
Mary, that's funny you write the 60's for me. I hate to break your impression, but I was only born in the mid 60's! My decade was really the 80's but hey, it's changed a lot since then when I look at my nieces! I might as well have been in the 40's!
So, is it I am so mature or, more likely, such an old stick in the mud that I come across as so much older? I've often been told that. : )